Bobby Ball
BornRobert Kay Ball
(1925-08-26)August 26, 1925
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
DiedFebruary 27, 1954(1954-02-27) (aged 28)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Champ Car career
17 races run over 3 years
Years active1950–1952
Best finish8th – 1952
First race1950 Phoenix 100 (ASF)
Last race1952 Phoenix 100 (ASF)
First win1952 San Jose 100 (San Jose)
Wins Podiums Poles
1 4 1
Formula One World Championship career
Active years1951–1952
TeamsSchroeder, Stevens
Entries2
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points2
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1951 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1952 Indianapolis 500

Robert Kay Ball[1] (August 26, 1925 – February 27, 1954) was an American racecar driver.[2]

Early life

Ball's parents divorced when he was a year old. He was raised by his grandmother, who enrolled him in a military academy as a teenager in an attempt to take his mind off cars and motorcycles.[2]

Racing career

Ball began racing with the Arizona Roadster Association, subsequently switching from roadsters to midgets. He won the Arizona State Midget Association (ASMA) championship in 1949 and 1950. He finished fifth in the 1951 Indianapolis 500 and 32nd in the 1952 Indianapolis 500.[2]

Ball won the AAA Championship race at San Jose in November 1952.[3] On January 4, 1953, he was involved in an accident at Carrell Speedway in Los Angeles which left him with terrible head injuries. He remained in a coma, first at the UCLA Medical Center and then at home in Phoenix, but died 14 months later of an infection.[2]

Bobby Ball Memorial

For many years, one of the two championship races held at Phoenix International Raceway was a memorial race dedicated to Ball. The Bobby Ball Memorial was first run in the fall of 1954 and 1955 as a 100-mile race on dirt, sanctioned by AAA at the Arizona State Fairgrounds.[4][5] Driver Jack McGrath was killed in an accident during the 1955 race.[6] Starting in 1956, the race was sanctioned by USAC,[7] and continued as a 100-mile contest at the fairgrounds through its 1963 edition.[8] In 1964, the race moved to the newly opened Phoenix International Raceway and was run at a distance of 200 miles.[9] It continued as a 200-mile race through the 1969 edition,[10] then was run at a 150-mile distance starting with the 1970 edition, which was won by Swede Savage.[11] The October 1971 edition was won by A. J. Foyt,[12] after which, the race was renamed through sponsorship from Best Western for its 1972 edition.[13] Bobby Ball naming returned for the 1976–1978 editions, the last of which was title sponsored by Miller High Life.[14]

Complete AAA Championship Car results

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos Points
1950 INDY
 MIL
 LAN
 SPR
 MIL
 PIK SYR
 DET
 SPR
 SAC
 PHX
15		 BAY
12		 DAR
DNQ		 49th 15
1951 INDY
5		 MIL
DNQ		 LAN
 DAR
 SPR
 MIL
 DUQ
 DUQ
 PIK SYR
 DET
 DNC
5		 SJS
11		 PHX
15		 BAY
13		 13th 620
1952 INDY
32		 MIL
11		 RAL
DNQ		 SPR
15		 MIL
10		 DET
9		 DUQ
6		 PIK SYR
3		 DNC
3		 SJS
1		 PHX
3		 8th 820

Indianapolis 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1951 5229134.098952000Running
1952 5517134.7252332340Gear case
Totals2340
Starts 2
Poles 0
Front Row 0
Wins 0
Top 5 1
Top 10 1
Retired 1

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 WDC Points
1951 Blakely Oil Schroeder Offenhauser L4 SUI
 500
5		 BEL
 FRA
 GBR
 GER
 ITA
 ESP
 19th 2
1952 Ansted Rotary Stevens Offenhauser L4 SUI
 500
32		 BEL
 FRA
 GBR
 GER
 NED
 ITA
 NC 0

References

  1. ↑ "Bobby Ball". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gates, Bob (March 2, 2010). "Bobby Ball Could Have Been One Of America's Greats". Turn 3 Media. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Ball Wins 100 Mile Race, James Is Hurt Seriously". The Fresno Bee. 3 November 1952. Retrieved 24 July 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Parsons Joins Big-Car Race Field Here". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. October 12, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved May 30, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Phoenix Race Finale For AAA". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. October 10, 1955. p. 4. Retrieved May 30, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Many Greats Gone Since Last '500'". Indianapolis News. May 29, 1956. p. 43. Retrieved May 30, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "New Entries In 100-Miler". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. October 10, 1956. p. 9. Retrieved May 30, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Bobby Unser Joins Filed For 14th Bobby Ball Run". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. November 6, 1963. p. 21. Retrieved May 30, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Top Drivers Due at PIR". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. November 15, 1964. p. 20. Retrieved May 30, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Bobby Ball race has all but Gurney". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. November 9, 1969. p. 145. Retrieved May 30, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Savage Gets 1st USAC Win – on Last Lap". Los Angeles Times. AP. November 22, 1970. p. 47. Retrieved May 30, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Reynard, Calvin (October 24, 1971). "Foyt Wins Ball Memorial". Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, Arizona. p. 21. Retrieved May 30, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Vies for Racing Crown". St. Joseph Gazette. St. Joseph, Missouri. AP. November 3, 1972. p. 16. Retrieved May 30, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Garrett, Mike (October 29, 1978). "It was in stars for Rutherford". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. p. 11. Retrieved May 30, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
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